Lip Service. Susan Mallery

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СКАЧАТЬ been a jerk about it. She’d been tempted to tell Ray that she would never love anyone but Mitch. But Jed had taken her aside and warned her that if she refused Ray, not only would she be dead to him, but that he would destroy the Cassidy Ranch. He would take Mitch’s inheritance and erase it from the face of the earth.

      She’d believed him but she’d still longed for Mitch. In the end circumstances had made the decision for her. She’d been pregnant with Ray’s baby. Just over seven months later, Erin had been born—five weeks premature.

      Now she sucked in a breath, wiped away her tears and faced Mitch.

      “Erin isn’t yours,” she said clearly.

      “I don’t believe you and I’ll destroy you for keeping her from me.”

      “You’ll have to prove it first.”

      “I want a DNA test. If you don’t agree, I’m willing to go to court to get it.”

      A part of her understood. Given their past and the timing of events, it made sense that he thought Erin could be his. A part of her had always wished she was. It was a secret she’d kept from Ray, one that had shamed her. But she’d been unable to let it go.

      Mitch’s choices were simple. Erin was his or the woman he’d loved had betrayed him.

      She thought about explaining that Erin had a birthmark on the small of her back. A tiny half-moon stain that Ray and all his other children shared. She doubted Mitch would believe her.

      “I’ll agree to a DNA test on the condition that you keep this to yourself,” she said quietly. “You won’t discuss it with Erin. I don’t want her hurt.”

      “You’re not in a position to dictate terms.”

      She raised her chin. “Erin is my daughter. She’s a child and doesn’t deserve to be in the middle of this. If you really think she’s yours, you shouldn’t want her hurt or confused. She can’t know until we have the results.”

      Mitch’s dark eyes gave nothing away. “Agreed. I’ll call a lab and have someone stop by.”

      He turned and left without saying anything else. She watched him go. He walked slowly but steadily. If she hadn’t known about the prosthesis, she might not have guessed there was anything wrong.

      When she was alone, she sank into her chair and closed her eyes. She hadn’t expected this. Didn’t he know her well enough to believe she wouldn’t keep his child from him?

      Obviously not, she thought sadly. He believed the worst about her. When he found out the truth about Erin, he would know that she, Skye, hadn’t been lying. But she had a bad feeling that wasn’t going to make an already difficult situation any better.

      MITCH STOOD in the center of the stable. The smell of horse and hay was exactly as he remembered, but he felt completely out of place. What he had once taken for granted now only served to point out everything he couldn’t do. Ride? He couldn’t get on a horse, let alone guide it.

      Riding should have been easy. He could use a mount, so he didn’t have to push off with his left leg as he swung his right leg over the saddle. But he was unable to balance on his prosthesis. Once on the horse, he wouldn’t have the control to use his left heel.

      Frustration, never far away, bubbled to the surface. What was he supposed to do with himself now? Ride around in the truck, like an old man?

      “I have something for you.”

      He turned toward the voice and saw Arturo leading a bay into the barn. The gelding was big and moved easily.

      Mitch took a step back. His heel caught in the wood floor and he nearly fell into the hay.

      “This is Bullet,” Arturo said, stroking the horse’s nose. “He’s been trained so you can mount him on the right side. You also only need to use your right heel. He’s strong and fast, with a bit of a temper. I thought you two would have that in common.”

      Mitch curled his hands into fists. “I don’t need your help,” he growled.

      “Maybe not, but I’m offering it. Besides, I used your money to buy him.”

      That should have made him smile, but Mitch was beyond humor. He hated everything about the ranch. The chickens, the organic beef with every single thing about their lives documented. He hated how the socks on his stump were soaked with blood every night and how the nightmares kept him from sleeping. He hated that he’d been so grateful to be alive only to find out nothing about his life was how he wanted it.

      “You want to ride again,” Arturo told him. “I know you do.”

      “Stay out of my life.”

      The old man’s mouth tightened. “Fine,” he said, and dropped the reins. He walked out, leaving Mitch and the horse alone in the barn.

      Mitch felt like an ass. He knew Arturo was only trying to help, but there were—

      He heard footsteps and was surprised Arturo had returned. But when he looked toward the entrance he saw a different silhouette.

      “You’re even more of a bastard than I thought,” Skye said as she moved into the barn. “Does it make you feel like a man to hurt people who love you?”

      She was the last person he wanted to see. Worse, she’d witnessed a part of him he had trouble controlling.

      “He loves you,” she said. “He wants you to know that.” She patted the horse’s neck. “Come on, Mitch. Why is that so bad?”

      “Arturo is fine. He can take care of himself.”

      “You’re his family. He shouldn’t have to.”

      “Get out,” he told her.

      She moved closer, until she stood right in front of him. “Are you going to make me? You’ve pretty much peaked on crappy things to say to me. So what’s left?” She raised her chin. “Want to hit me? It seems that you want to hit somebody. Why not me? Don’t I deserve it?”

      “Do you like it rough these days?” he sneered.

      She flushed but held her ground. “I know that certain parts of your life suck, but you got to come home. That counts. You have people who are thrilled you’re back. That counts more. What I want to know is, do you have a timetable on the pity party? Or is it playing indefinitely?”

      “Right. Because it’s so easy for you to judge from your perfect life. Want to trade, Skye? Want to give up a leg or an arm? Live with that for a while and then we’ll talk.”

      “You are so full of crap,” she said. “This isn’t about your leg. This is about you.”

      He wanted to crush her. He wanted to take her and make her beg. He wanted her naked and vulnerable and then he wanted to walk away.

      She stared into his eyes as if daring him to do everything he was thinking. Finally she drew a breath.

      “Erin has provided her DNA sample. Anytime you’re ready, you can do the same. Then we’ll СКАЧАТЬ